Clutter-free Stocking Stuffers for Christmas

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Hey there! I'm Jessica. I think that motherhood should be savored, like a good piece of chocolate. But sometimes it feels like more duty than delight. Am I right? I'm working to change that. Read more about me here and this blog here.

Tired of giving gifts that become clutter six months later? Yeah, me, too. I’m on a mission to have clutter-free stocking stuffers for Christmas.

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Stocking stuffers are one of the highlights of our Christmas morning. We open stockings first. They are the start of the day’s fun, if you will.

A few summers ago when I was helping some children clean their room, I found several card games. Correction: I found pieces to several card games. Apparently, we no longer had the rest of the games, nor did we have the instructions to play them. For the record, I’d never ever played the games, nor had I seen my children play the games.

But I had bought them.

Oh, yes, I had. I bought the games, paid cold hard cash for them, wrapped them, and stuffed them in stockings on Christmas Eve. And here I was six months later throwing the bits and pieces in the trash.

And paying a stupid tax.

You see, I was paying for the error of my ways. In the name of stuffing a Christmas stocking, I had purchased things that no one had asked for and things that no one apparently loved. And they became clutter.

Note to self: don’t do this again.

The Grinch in me wanted to say NO MORE STOCKINGS. But, we love the stockings! The stockings are the opening act of a day full of fun. How do I reconcile that fun little bag full of treasure with the desire for less stuff later on?

Clutter-free Stocking Stuffers

In my efforts to curb this post-Christmas waste, I’ve set on a different course in how I go about filling my children’s stockings. The idea started that everything would be edible and therefore gone within a day or two. Since then I’ve adapted my clutter-free stocking stuffers motto it to require everything to be consumable. Edible, usable, consumable, and, hopefully, very little pickupable off the closet floor next July.

I don’t mind if they go through it in a day as long as it brings a smile and doesn’t become more clutter to pick up!

Consider these ideas for clutter-free stocking stuffers. I’ve rounded up some of the items that I’ve purchased for my kids here on this Amazon idea list.

Breakfast

Breakfast in a stocking is fun for the kids and easy on me. When I was growing up, Christmas breakfast involved passing around a two-pound box of See’s candy. As much as I love my nuts and chews, I know that a breakfast of straight sugar isn’t a great way to start the day.

Instead I include in the stockings fun and/or healthy items to eat during that “hyper-excited-it’s-Christmas-morning!” rush. This might include small, sampler sizes of granola bars or cereal, the prerequisite orange or clementine, juice boxes, and other fun breakfast foods, like those Dinosaur egg oatmeal packets. Sure, they might still have a good dose of sugar, but at least we’re taking a stab at real food.

Note for next year: You can save on these items by using coupons, watching for sales, or saving up the samples that you might request through different companies. If you build a stockpile as the year progresses — watching the best by dates — you can easily acquire clutter-free stocking stuffers on a budget.

Snacks

I don’t typically stock our cupboards with “snack” foods all that often. So, these items make fun additions to the stockings. In the past I’ve included bags of Pirate’s Booty, fruit leathers, and popcorn on the cob as well as Jamba Juice gift cards bought on discount at Costco. This year I’ve picked up things like beef jerky, Cheetos, sodas, and candy. Since I rarely buy soda and candy, this is a treat!

Note for next year: Watch for sales on snack foods at back to school time and buy a few each week so it doesn’t crunch the budget. I loaded my Ralphs/Kroger card with all their freebie Friday coupons for several weeks and redeemed those for my clutter-free stocking stuffers.

Toiletries

Toiletries can span all ages and sexes. What kid under the age of 8 doesn’t love character bandages? Along with Band-aids, you can include character dental supplies as well as hand soap, hand sanitizer, and shampoo.

Note for next year: CVS and Walgreens do a lot of promotions on toiletries like this, so watch for sales on these items, too.

Toys and Tech

Yes, toys can be clutter-free stocking stuffers, especially when they are things that can be used up, like coloring books, colored pencils, and water balloons. Those are definitely consumable! Do you know how fast a 3 year old can whip through a coloring book? My girls have run through my large Prismacolor box of pencils in a matter of weeks.

On the tech side, phone cases, ear buds, and even batteries are things that kids can easily use that won’t become clutter.

Giving consumable, clutter-free stocking stuffers is a great way to reduce the things that you (and your kids) have to clean up as well as ensure that there are fun and tasty diversions to start the day off with a bang.

What are YOUR favorite clutter-free stocking stuffers?

Originally posted December 1, 2011. Updated December 18, 2017.

About Jessica Fisher

I believe you can get great meals on the table -- and still keep that pretty smile on your face.

Comments

Some great ideas to consider. Thanks! I found some cute soaps at Michael’s (craft store) that look like candy. I’m hoping the kids don’t try to eat them, but I know they’ll be stoked when they find out that they get to take “candy” into the shower with them 🙂 We, too, are trying to diminish the clutter and increase the gratitude (hopefully)! Thanks for the tips.

Oh, one more thing: character anything (toothpaste, bandaids, etc.) goes over HUGE with my kids since this mama will not typically shell out extra bucks for Spiderman’s face. Dollar Tree is excellent for this during Christmas, though, as you mentioned.

My favorite thing is to stuff the stockings and stock the pantry at the same time. My kids always get full-size versions of their favorite things in their stockings–Nutella, dried cherries and apricots, cashews, larabars, tea bags. I’ll write their name on the outside and pop them into the pantry–though I do mark their name on the outside. But everyone shares their favorite goodies, and really, it’s stuff I buy anyway. But they love to see the full jar with their own name on it.

They also get things like bubble bath and new toothbrushes. And really, they love to get them.

I love your idea of everything being consumable, but I have taken a different approach. I am spending more on stocking stuffers than ever before. Why? Because I am getting the kids exactly what they want and asked for. I know they will love everything I put in there so while it is a more expensive than getting whatever is cheapest at the store that will fit in the stocking (what I used to do). I did this last year and it was a big hit, so will keep doing it. It does mean spending less on the larger gifts under the tree and having to watch for sales a little bit harder, but it is worth it.

Oh and there are plenty of consumable goodies in there – I love adding their favorite foods to their stockings.

I always put a couple of rolls of scotch tape in my daughters stocking. She is thrilled as she loves to use tape (she’s 6) and I am thrilled b/c she will have her own and stop using up all mine! I also like to put cute socks or barretts or chapstick in hers. I may give her her own stapler this year! Sounds crazy but she will love it.

I came to the same realization several years ago. I have a teenager (boy) and an almost-teenager (girl) here. They both get clementines, toothbrushes, gum. He gets Axe stuff and McDonalds (blech – that I never buy ) and Caribou Coffee gift cards. She gets ponytail holders, barrettes, etc., and Wendy’s and Subway gift cards.

I love the idea of the colored duct tape. I may add that in. She is forever making duct tape wallets or flowers or something. And I may add some Sharpie markers this year because they are always taking mine for school.

I have teenage twins, so it’s harder and harder to do inexpensive stocking stuffers. My goal is $20 or less per stocking. I’m usually able to get a free T-shirt for each of them using the frequent $10/$10 purchase at JC Penneys, and I add a book off Paperback Swap. Those 2 items take up a lot of space, which helps. 🙂 For her I add her favorite lip balm, fuzzy socks and a ton of chocolate (per her request). He gets some candy but also a tool or two, a wrench, pliers, etc., to start building a decent set for when he is on his own. I also look for freebies throughout the year for both stockings and Easter baskets. I’ve already got a pastel mug that was 79-cents for my daughter for Easter and will be looking for coffee, hot chocolate and tea samples to fill it. Thanks for the ideas. Like others mentioned, I may add duct tape to both stockings! (My daughter learned to make flowers out of the colored duct tape in art last year – very pretty!)

We’ve been doing this since our kids were little. Now that the kids are teens we add things like favorite scents of body wash, perfume, iTunes cards, hair bands, etc. It’s actually gotten easier to fill stockings frugally. As they get older it seems things they want get smaller, and more expensive!

I LOVE the idea of the breakfast edibles in the stocking. Awesome. For a while, my family did “dollar tree” stockings, too. Adults and kids alike participated — you got $10 to spend at the dollar store on whatever kind of silly fun stuff you could find. Doesn’t solve the problem of waste since it really was random, but at least it was cheap!

I always include two movie tickets in my kid’s stockings. A friend of mine has a daughter who sells reduced price movie tickets as a fundraiser right before the holidays so I buy two for each of my teenagers and then they can take a friend to the movies during Christmas break. This has been a HUGE hit each time I do it. I also stock up on headphones when they are on sale in the pre Christmas sales and put a set of them into each stocking. My kids go through 3-4 prs of headphones a year with Ipods, computers, etc. so they are always a precious commodity in our house. Often they go on sale for $2- $5 a set prior to Christmas.

I love it. We usually do the same thing. Candy, toiletries, especially. Last year I got a six pack of scotch tape for my husband and one for my daughter to go in their stockings. They loved it because they go through the stuff like tissues and it was a little offbeat and funny.

We do silly socks, toothbrushes (usually a fun spin brush), clementines, M&Ms and/or lollipops (these are rarities for us), and coin purses with a buck inside or a bunch of quarters. I may do a couple of CDs we can sing to in the car together. And I bought a bunch of polly pocket Princess things on consignment, so I’ll divvy those up between the girls — no packaging, just tucking them in since I got them for $2 at a school sale. Hot Wheels for my little boy. Love the mini pringles, too — we never buy that stuff so it’s extra special!

Great ideas- we love stockings at our house, too! I second office supplies that were mentioned in the comments- they’re popular no matter what age kids are. Also for girls it’s always easy to get nail polish and discounted jewelry. And the staple every year at our house? Socks! 🙂

There are some really great ideas here! Once my kids get a little older I’ll definitely be doing things like movie tickets and homemade gift certificates for extra priveledges or activities.

This year each stocking will have a single carton of Goldfish, two granola bars, a little bit of money, and a Lush Ickle Baby Bath bomb. The later would be quite pricey for large families as their $4 a pop. Since I’ve stopped buying packaged foods for snacks the Goldfish and granola bars will be a huge hit. As for the money, my 2 y/o is getting a piggy bank and the 5 y/o is obsessed with saving for Lego Batman toys (To be released in 2012) so it will fit with our other gifts.

Somewhat related question for Fishmama: Do you have a hard time finding things to give your younger boys? We were a bit stumped because our boys share the same interests and we really don’t want any more trains or plastic dinosaurs around! I hope they younger one branches out a bit as he gets older or this is going to be tough every year. I don’t want to think about how many Legos we’ll end up with!

love these suggestions, I’ve been having similar thoughts for this year’s stockings. We did add a more costly item though: wool socks! The kids don’t have any and really should for all the sledding trips our New England winters usually afford! Also, waterproof mittens/gloves, since they ALWAYS lose them. We then add breakfast, like you, and I love the idea of dental supplies! I’ve heard there’s colored floss…

We do stocking similarly. We put batteries in there for any toys they’re getting, cereal bars and fruit snacks, a fun new toothbrush and toothpaste (brushes always, toothpaste only if I can find it on sale w/a coupon) and kid shampoo/body wash which I usually buy throughout the year with coupons and stockpile. We’ll add hair clips for our girl (who knew these were consumables? our school is like a black hole for barrettes!) and stickers or craft supplies for everyone. We’ll also do socks because everyone NEEDS them by this time of year, and a fun ice pack or water bottle if it’s needed for a lunchbox.

Love the idea of the cartoon band-aids. We go through them like crazy and our kids would love that since we only get them every couple times when I can find them on sale.

This post could not be more timely! I was just tempted to grab a whole bunch of cheap chocolates at Walgreens but stopped myself. I am a dietitian and feel like everyone goes so overboard with the junk food this time of year. A little bit is fine but massive amounts is not good for anyone. So I am going to do lotions, razors, lip balms, etc for the adults (free with coupons of course) and lip balm and perhaps those paper dolls that Prudent Homemaker was mentioning. Love the ideas and the push for no more clutter! 🙂

Those are some really great ideas. I’ve heard financial guru Dave Ramsey use that term “stupid tax” before, too. I do like that popcorn on the cob. That is a really clever and creative gift. Love and hugs from the ocean shores of California, Heather

We don’t “do Santa”, but hanging stockings looks lovely, so we’ve morphed the tradition a bit. Just before Christmas, we all go together to our favorite grocery store, which has a fantastic bulk foods and produce section. Everyone chooses fun treats we don’t buy on a regular basis: odd fruits, dried fruits and nuts, small candies, that sort of thing, plus other bulk treats like jerky, popcorn, etc. Then we have a lot of fun parceling the goodies out into small bags, and those are tucked into the stockings Christmas Eve. They’re breakfast Christmas morning. It’s inexpensive, enjoyable for the morning, and GONE by the end of Christmas day. 🙂

We don’t do Santa either. Our four-year-old knows that Mama and Da fill her stocking, and each other’s stockings. She is looking forward to helping both of us this year. (Most of the presents come from grandparents, but she knows the others are from us, too!)

Great ideas! I love that Mickey soap…and method in general! We always gave “smaller” gifts in our stockings….like my first CD wasn’t under the tree….it was in my stocking. Less under the tree, but less junk in the stocking, too.

I absolutely love the idea of going with consumables. I love doing stockings, but it can get a little crazy with all the goodies that won’t last long….and if I just gave food, it’d be gone that day, heh. But the band-aids? Genius. And the popcorn on the cob? I’m definitely stealing that idea. So fun.

I absolutely love this! Its right up my alley! We do play board games… but I am tired of all the pieces and storing them (they can be so bulky and The Game of Life is a pain to put away). So this year we got the travel sets (they were on sale… what can I say?) So far so good, easier to clean up and easier to put away… I will be on the look out for more! This year we didn’t put the stocking stuffers in the stockings because the wall is thinner than our last place. We placed them on a little table near by… chocolate oranges, coloring books, a drinking cup, and a slamwhich card game.

Great ideas moms! We always give silver dollars or $2. bills in the stockings. Our son saves them up and spends them on something special. He also gets a book of stamps and notecards for thank you notes ($1. at Michael’s) to write when the chaos calms down. Since he thinks Santa left them he doesn’t fuss about doing them…

It’s 2 years after you wrote this post and it came up on google when I searched for stocking stuffers for my kids. I also don’t want more clutter in my home and wanted easy, cheap stocking stuffers. THANK YOU!!! My kids will be getting fruit snacks, pirate booty, cheetos (my son’s favorite, which i NEVER buy) and coloring books.

I always find a fun inexpensive electric toothbrush, new toothpaste, a new bath scrubbie, fun charater bandaids, new crayons or fun pencils/pens, an activity book, a new book or small half-price gift card, some fruit at the bottom, and a $5 Starbucks gift card. My kiddos (ages 5 and 9) get a kick out of being able to buy their own treat or drink at Starbucks. Oh, and new socks too! I have done the same thing every year and my kids really look forward to it.

I have enjoyed searching through your blog. WE have 7 children. I too was filling stocking with future clutter for years. Until 3 years ago it was time to buy one more stocking for New baby and I saw the small version. I asked Grandma to sew us all New stockings instead of store bought but make them small. Now we fill our stockings with candy treats the kids usually do not get through out the year. The money I save I use toward another larger gift just from Santa. Like a doll or something. One bigger gift rather than a stocking full. We try to use the rule for gifts…something to wear, something to share, something to read, something you want, something you need, plus I add something handmade. Cutting down on the material side of Christmas as made it more family focused.

Hi! I'm Jessica. I want to help YOU get great meals on the table -- and keep that smile on your face. Read more here.

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